Slot machine outcomes are controlled by programs called pseudorandom number generators that produce baffling results by design. (A true random number generator must be rooted in a phenomenon. If you want to learn how to win a slot machine, then read this. You will discover tips about the slot machine random number generator which will help you have more success in slots. The Random Number Generator HOME Video Poker Guide The Random Number Generator Having discussed the apparent (physical) features of the standard video poker machine, we are going to dedicate some time discussing the only component that turns video poker into a skill-requiring game, rather than another type of slot. HOME Slots Guide Slots Random Number Generator Did you know that about 70% of the casinos' income comes from slot machines? These are probably the most popular contemporary form of gambling, and as modern times brought new challenges, slot machines evolved, too.
CasinoPublished on November 20th, 2019 | by Sunit Nandi
0If slot machines use mathematics to operate, does it mean that we can use maths to beat the slot machines? Whilst with some games of skill there's usually some kind of an angle that can be used to beat the game, slots, sadly, don't fall into this category. This is primarily because of Random Number Generators, RNG. They are little bits of computer code that make it virtually impossible for players to guess when to click the spin button and beat the slots. However, nothing is ever carved in stone! In 2014 a gang of Russian criminals got their hands onto some old slot machines and somehow managed to reverse the source code. Then they used mathematics to time the random number generator routines to beat the slots. Their system worked for a while, until they were caught by surprise and the casino industry once again tightened their security.
This incident caused mathematicians to confirm that a true random number generation algorithm would be impossible to design. However never to be beaten, they designed a new quantum random number generator. But until large scale production of these chips begins, the online gaming industry will have to rely on improved security practices.
What is a Random Number Generator?
Random Number Generators are computer programmes that use a mathematical formula to ensure that the outcome of each spin on a slot machine is completely random. There are different types of RNG's but normally casinos use Pseudo Random Number Generators. These RNG's don't need external numbers or data to produce an output, all they require is an algorithm and a seed number.
They way they work on slot machines is this: Casinos assign a value to each of the symbols on a reel. For example, when a user is playing a five reel slot game with twelve symbols on each reel, the RNG assigns a value of 1-12 for each of the five reels. RNG's then generate a sequence that doesn't have any set pattern, thereby ensuring complete randomness.
Of course it's possible to cheat Random Number Generators but the majority of online gamers have no idea how to do this. Casino's ensure that the machines produce a completely random result by using the services of external companies like eCogra, a company that conducts regular tests on the machines.
And there you have it, the reason why it's not possible to beat a slot machine by maths, unless of course, you're a brilliant mathematician! It's ironic however, that the oldest slot machines from the 1930's had a true RNG built into the system. Known as a 'fan clock', a spinning blade driven by springs was released when a player pulled the handle of a slot game. Thanks to atmospheric pressure, humidity and mechanical variants, each spin of the slot machine was completely random.
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5 Packaging Tips to Beat the Heat this Summer →The Random Number Generator (RNG) is the brains of the slot machine. While most players know that there is a computer chip picking the numbers, they do not fully understand how it works and this can lead to some of the many myths and misconceptions about a slot machine. One of the most common myths is that a machine has a cycle that can let a player know when it is due to hit. Many 'Snake Oil Salesmen' will try to sell you a system for doing just that. Save your money — it can't be done.
The RNG Program
Inside the slot machine is a microprocessor similar to the one in your home computer. Instead of running Word or Excel, it runs a special program, the RNG, that generates numbers to correspond to the symbols on the reel of the slot machine.
You might say that the RNG is in perpetual motion. As long as there is power to the machine it is constantly selecting random numbers every millisecond. The RNG generates a value between 0 and 4 billion (approx number) which is then translated into a specific set of numbers to correspond to the symbols on the reels. The outcome of each spin is determined by the number selected by the RNG. This number is chosen when you hit the spin button or deposit a coin.
The RNG uses a formula known as an algorithm which is a series of instructions for generating the numbers. The scope of this is beyond most of our mathematical knowledge but can be checked for accuracy. This is done by the Casino Control Board and other testing laboratories to make sure that the program performs as it should so the player will not be cheated.
Principles of the Random Number Generator
Here is a more simplified explanation that's easier to relate to. Although this is not precisely how the RNG operates, it should give you a basic understanding of the principles of how the winning spins are determined.
Reel Type Slot Machines
Reel type slot machines have a number of spaces on each reel that contain a symbol or blank. These are referred to as the physical stops. Most of the old mechanical machines had reels that could hold 20 symbols while the modern slots have reels with 22 physical stops. The microprocessing technology allows the new machines to be able to accommodate a large number of 'Virtual stops' which I will explain in a future article.
For this example, let's simplify things and imagine that there are only 10 stops on each reel. With 10 stops there can be 1,000 different combinations. We get this number by multiplying the number of symbols on each reel. (10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000) The 1,000 combinations that can be attained are known as a cycle, and this is the word that sometimes confuses a player into thinking that the machine has cycles of winning and losing.
The odds of a three number combination being picked are one in a thousand. Theoretically, if you play 1,000 spins you should see each of these number combinations once. However, we all know that this is not the case. If you played a million spins you would see that the numbers would even out to be closer to the actual probability. This is similar to flipping a coin 100 times. Although the odds are 50 -50 you are unlikely to see 50 heads and 50 tails after 100 spins.
Slot Machines Are Not Random
The Daily Pick 3 Lottery
Many of you have seen the Daily Pick 3 lottery drawing. They have three glass bowls or drums each containing ten balls numbered 0 -9. The balls are mixed up and when the top is lifted a ball pops up the tube showing you the first number. This is repeated for the second and third number to give you a three-digit winning combination.
To use this as an example of the operation of the slot machine, we will replace the numbers 0-9 on the balls with slot symbols. In each bowl, we will have one ball with the jackpot symbol on it. Two balls with a Bar, three balls with a cherry and four balls which are blank. Imagine the RNG in the slot machine as the person drawing the winning combination.
Are Slot Machines Really Random
Here is the breakdown of the number of times out of a thousand that the winning combination made.
- 3 Jackpot 1 (1x1x1)
- 3 Bars 8 (2x2x2)
- 3 Cherries 27 (3x3x3)
- Total Wins 37
The 963 losing combinations consist of:
- 3 blanks
- 2 blanks and a symbol
- 1 blank and two different symbols
- 3 mixed symbols
Beating Random Number Generators
The RNG picks these combinations of numbers thousands of times each second. Now imagine a string of blinking lights where only one bulb can be lit at a time. The electrical current is zipping from bulb to bulb down the string. When you push a button the current stops moving and the bulb in that position lights up. In this example, the light represents the three digit number just picked by the RNG. If you hesitated a second before pushing the button the results would be different. This is the same as you getting up from a machine and seeing someone else sit down and hit the jackpot. The chances are astronomical that you would have hit the spin button at the exact same millisecond.
